CN115667775A - Method for detecting vibrations and/or shocks that may be encountered by a control valve - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for detecting vibrations and/or shocks such as may be encountered by a control valve (100) in a process plant. For this purpose, position sensors are used which are used to monitor the actual position of the valve member. The position of the valve member (125) measured during the monitoring is recorded and evaluated within the scope of the method. The vibrations and/or shocks transmitted to the valve member (125) and/or the sensor device are depicted here, for example, by deviations from a theoretical position or changes in position. In this way, vibrations and/or shocks can be detected, for example, as a result of fluctuations in the flow rate, wear of the control valve (100) or of parts of the installation, or environmental influences. The use of additional sensors is unnecessary or at least can be reduced. In addition, a preset position sensor has been designed for application to the regulator valve (100). The method can thus be implemented at low cost and also in a reliable manner.

Description

Method for detecting vibrations and/or shocks that may be encountered by a control valve

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a method for detecting vibrations and/or shocks that may be encountered by a regulating valve. Control valves are used in processes or process engineering plants to control or regulate processes or process media. Other examples of applications are in particular solar thermal plants or short-range or long-range heating plants. In addition to control and regulation applications, regulating valves are also used as safety valves for protecting equipment or processes.

The control valve is subjected to internal and external mechanical stresses which can be caused by the entire installation in which the control valve is installed, the control valve itself and the surroundings of the installation or the control valve. Mechanical loads can be attributed to wear and malfunction of valves or equipment parts or lead to wear or even malfunction of regulating valves, equipment or equipment parts. They may in many cases allow the status and functional capability of the regulating valve or device to be accounted for.

The mechanical loading of the control valve generally occurs as a result of the operation of the valve or the device. They may also be caused and/or intensified by wear, malfunction and malfunction of the regulating valve, the device and/or one of the device parts, as well as interference situations, climatic and environmental influences.

Vibrations belong to mechanical loads, which include not only periodic or oscillatory vibrations, but also non-periodic vibrations, for example due to superposition of incomparable resonances or the presence of nonlinear vibration systems in valve components or in machine components.

Vibrations occur in many cases as a result of the use of actuators in process equipment, such as, for example, regulating valves or pumps. They may also be the own vibrations of other equipment parts, such as for example a motor or a turbine, which is directly or indirectly connected to the regulating valve, for example by means of pipes or other equipment parts. Process fluid pressure fluctuations and flow fluctuations also cause upsets or excitations in process equipment or regulator valves. Vibration may also indicate turbulence in the process media caused by wear, loose parts of the equipment, or impurities within the process media.

Thus, vibrations have distinct causes and accordingly have a wide variety of time scales or cycle times. The scale or cycle time may here lie in a wide range of milliseconds or even days or months. The latter will for example correspond to vibrations occurring due to temperature fluctuations caused by the environment caused by day and night cycles or by seasonal changes.

Another mechanical load is an impact, which differs fundamentally from a vibration in its duration and its form of occurrence. Vibration is a repetitive load, while shock can be said to mean an individual occurrence. The impact occurs, for example, at start-up or slow-down shut-down of the plant, at start-up or shut-down of the process, or at opening or closing of valves or valves under pressure. They may also occur as a result of climatic influences such as gusts or collapse, which indicate parts which collide with the regulating valve or the plant components connected to the regulating valve or which are traced back to interference situations which cause sudden changes in the process conditions.

Prior Art

The vibrations and/or shocks are in many cases logically linked to the state and functional capability of the regulating valve or device. Accordingly, various approaches are described in the prior art to monitor a regulating valve or device using vibrations and/or shocks that the regulating valve may encounter.

Acceleration sensors are usually used here for structure-borne sound recording/measurement. Thus, for example, patent document DE102016216923B4 proposes the use of a piezoelectric acoustic transducer which measures as a sensor signal and provides a valve mechanical oscillation in a fixed, preferably as large a frequency spectrum as possible. Alternatively, DE102016216923B4 specifies the use of a microphone. The use of vibration sensors or acoustic sensors to measure vibrations and/or shocks that may act on the regulating valve is described in a similar manner in patent document US9,423,050B2.

The sensors may be placed at different locations of the regulating valve, where they may register their placement in correspondence with different types of vibrations and/or shocks. Thus, a structure-borne sound sensor is installed in the region of the valve cone or valve actuating lever of the control valve to measure vibrations resulting from fluid pressure fluctuations and/or flow rate fluctuations. The air-borne or structure-borne sound sensor is suitable for detecting vibrations and/or impacts outside the control valve in order to detect external vibrations and/or impacts, for example, vibrations or wind influences transmitted by the pipeline. Therefore, at least one vibration sensor is required for measuring vibrations and/or shocks. Multiple sensors must generally be employed to measure different types or sources of vibration and/or shock that may be applied to the regulator valve, thereby enabling the various vibration states of the regulator valve to be evaluated.

The installation and operation of the sensors is mostly complicated and expensive. Furthermore, the reliability and persuasion of the monitoring is limited by the type of sensor available, the corresponding measuring range and the corresponding measuring accuracy, and the wear and failure of the sensor. Although this can be dealt with, it is done to adapt the sensor to a predetermined installation site in or at the regulating valve or the device. But this generally requires additional costs in sensor design, selection, manufacture, installation and/or operation and therefore incurs further costs.

Task

The object of the invention is to specify a method for monitoring or supervising a control valve or a device, by means of which vibrations and/or shocks that can be encountered by the control valve can be detected simply, inexpensively, and reliably and convincingly.

Solution scheme

This task is accomplished by the subject matter of the independent claims. The features of the developments of the subject matter of the independent claims are specified in the dependent claims. The wording of all claims is hereby incorporated into the content of the description.

The use of the singular should not exclude the plural and vice-versa unless stated otherwise.

Some of the method steps will be described in detail below. These steps do not necessarily have to be performed in the order indicated and the method to be described may also have other steps not mentioned.

To accomplish this task, a method for detecting vibrations and/or shocks that may be encountered by the regulating valve is proposed. The control valve is here a part of the plant on which the process is or can be operated with the process medium. It has a valve member for influencing the process medium and/or the process running or operable on the apparatus, a position controller for adjusting the position of the valve member, and a position sensor capable of measuring the actual position of the valve member.

The method comprises the following steps:

first, the position controller holds or moves the valve member in or to the theoretical position for a first time interval. The following steps follow:

1. measuring at least one position of the valve member by means of the position sensor in a second time interval lying within or equal to the first time interval, typically the at least one measured position being the actual position of the valve member;

2. recording at least one position of the valve member as measured by the position sensor at a second range of time intervals;

3. determining a vibration and/or shock that the regulating valve may encounter by analyzing at least one position of the valve member recorded at a second time interval; and

4. outputting a message if the at least one vibration and/or the at least one impact is determined and/or the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the at least one impact is above a predetermined threshold.

The aim of the method is to use the position sensor already present in the position controller as a vibration sensor, i.e. a sensor for detecting vibrations and/or shocks that the control valve may encounter. Thus, the use of additional sensors may be dispensed with or at least reduced. Furthermore, the position sensor of the position controller is already adapted for use in or at the regulating valve or the device. The design, adjustment, selection, production, installation and operation of additional or adapted sensors can thus be dispensed with.

If vibrations and/or shocks occur in the device or the regulating valve, for example in continuous operation, due to the use of the pump or turbulence of the process medium, they can be transmitted to the valve member and/or the position sensor because of the elasticity and/or mechanical freedom of the device or the regulating valve or parts thereof. If the vibrations and/or shocks transmitted to the valve member and/or the position sensor are above a certain intensity or amplitude (e.g. 0.01%, 0.1% or 0.3% of the full stroke), they may be measured or detected by means of the position sensor in the form of a change in the position of the valve member. The measurable intensity or amplitude of the vibrations and/or impacts is obtained, in particular, by the resolving power of the position sensor.

The vibration frequency may also be analyzed and evaluated. In this way, vibrations detected by means of the method can be compared with vibrations that have been detected, are known or originate from known sources. High-frequency vibrations with a frequency higher than the scanning rate of the sensor cannot be distinguished and detected in detail here, although. But they show a widely spread distribution of measurement values or higher, which at least can be inferred as their presence. This is sufficient in many cases to be able to determine the occurrence of unusual mechanical loads or functional faults. The scanning rate of the position sensor is generally about 100ms or in the range from 1ms to 1s, 5ms to 200ms or 10ms to 150 ms. It may also be in the range of about 2ms to 4 ms.

The change in position is indicative of relative movement between the sensor and the valve member. They do not necessarily correspond to the current valve member movement within the valve housing. They may also represent movement of the position sensor relative to the valve member or valve housing. They can also display the movement of the sensor component, which may occur independently of the movement of the valve member or the position sensor, for example, if the mechanical component of the position sensor vibrates or moves due to vibrations and/or shocks acting on the control valve.

The regulating valve can be designed differently. It may be a rotary valve (e.g. a ball or gate valve) or a stroke valve in which a valve cone or gate is moved to open and close the valve. The valve member may thus be rotatably mounted, movable in a lateral or vertical direction or in other directions depending on the application. Depending on the configuration of the regulating valve, the valve member can therefore withstand some vibrations and/or shocks better than others. Thus, the horizontally movable valve member of the gate is generally better able to withstand horizontal vibrations and/or impacts than the vertically movable valve member. While the vertically movable valve member better registers the vertical lifting movement. The stroke valve can also better register translational movements, vibrations transmitted by the line or temperature-induced fluctuations as a rotary valve. Rotating the valve in many cases makes it possible to better register the vibrations and/or shocks transmitted by the process medium, since the valve member is located in the center of the flow of the process medium at each valve member position. In addition to the currently recorded valve member movement, the movement measured by the position sensor also plays an important role here. Therefore, the shutter in many cases has only one sensor device for measuring the horizontal movement of the valve member. Position sensors in rotary valves typically only measure changes in the angular position of the valve member.

A position controller for a regulator valve includes an actuator or drive mechanism for moving a valve member. The drive mechanism may be an electric drive mechanism or a fluid drive mechanism (e.g., pneumatic or hydraulic). It may also be pre-tensioned so that the valve member automatically moves to the safe position in the event of a disturbance, such as a loss of power or a reduction in compressed air. The preloaded drive mechanism is first installed in a control valve which is used as a safety valve. They differ from non-prestressed drive mechanisms in particular by the valve member oscillation behavior in the valve housing or the resonance behavior/resonance frequency of the valve member or the control valve. The valve member can thus be subjected to vibrations and/or shocks and convert them into a movement of its own, which can vary according to the type and degree of pretension. This can be taken into account or exploited within the scope of the proposed method in the measurement of vibrations and/or shocks that differ, for example, in their frequency, shape or duration.

By means of the position sensor it can be determined and monitored in which position the position controller holds the valve member or in which position the position controller moves the valve member. It may be an integral part of the position controller or placed in another position in or on the regulating valve. The position sensor can be connected to the position controller directly or indirectly via an evaluation or control unit of the control valve or of the device.

The measurement of the at least one position of the valve member by means of the position sensor during the second time interval may be performed within the scope of a routine already available or used for monitoring of the valve member position. However, other or additional measurements or measurement intervals can also be provided within the scope of the proposed method, which can be adapted to the vibrations and/or impacts to be measured or to be expected. To measure the high frequency vibrations, the scanning rate of the position sensor may be increased, for example. The measurements may also be made at non-sequential intervals and selected, for example, randomly or approximately randomly. In this way, vibrations and/or shocks, which are based on their frequency compared to the sensor scanning rate or cannot be measured because they occur too briefly, can also be measured at least over a sufficient time interval.

The method may be performed at different times. It includes situations in which the valve member rests or is held by the position control in a position which is mechanically unchanged for the first and/or second time interval, for example in the sealing closed position or closed position. The method can also be temporarily interrupted and continued at a later time, for example during a batch change within the scope of a batch process or as long as the operating state of the regulating valve and/or the device is changed. Accordingly, the first and second time intervals are in many cases determined by the operation of the device or the control valve. They may, for example, comprise 0.25 to 24 hours, 0.5 to 10 hours, 1 to 5 hours, or 2 to 3 hours.

The valve member position may be any valve member position between the closed position and a valve position corresponding to a fully open valve. This may be the relative valve member position with respect to a reference point, such as for example a position controller or a drive mechanism of a position controller, but also the valve member (angular) position with respect to one or more reference axes or reference planes. This also applies to the actual or theoretical position of the valve member.

The message may be an alarm or an instruction for performing a maintenance step and/or movement of the valve member to the safety position. The message output can also be specified only in the recording of the measured vibrations and/or shocks. The recorded vibrations and/or shocks may be stored in a position controller or control unit of the regulating valve or device or in the cloud and possibly further analyzed. The occurrence of vibrations and/or shocks and/or the change in the frequency, amplitude, intensity and/or frequency of the occurrence of measured vibrations and/or shocks can here indicate, at least in a very close approximation, a change or a state and a functional capability of the regulating valve or the device.

The amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the at least one impact may be the amplitude of an individual vibration, the amplitude of an individual impact or the sum of such amplitudes. The amplitude may be formed from the currently measured vibration and/or shock. It may also contain the recorded amplitude of the vibration and/or shock. It is thus also possible to output a message when the amplitude of the individual vibrations and/or the individual impacts does not rise above a predetermined threshold value. This is the case, for example, when vibrations and/or shocks occur frequently or in succession one after the other a number of times and the sum of the amplitudes of the vibrations and/or shocks exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

For determining the vibration and/or the impact by means of the at least one position of the valve member recorded during the second time interval or for analyzing the at least one position of the valve member recorded during the second time interval, a number of methods are available. Many of these methods use or focus on at least one difference between the recorded at least one position of the valve member and the theoretical position based on the at least one difference between the recorded at least one position of the valve member and the theoretical position and/or for determining the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the at least one shock. The at least one difference can be calculated, for example, by subtracting the theoretical position of the valve member from the recorded at least one position of the valve member. The difference can also be determined by direct comparison of the measured values with the theoretical values, i.e. without a clear subtraction.

The theoretical position of the valve member may thus be considered as a reference for determining vibrations and/or shocks. The theoretical position is a known value that can not only be set, but in many cases also be maintained by the position controller. It is in many cases a stable reference which does not have to be determined by additional steps and therefore also has no ambiguity or measurement errors. The vibration and/or the impact or the associated amplitude can thus be determined easily and in many cases reliably.

The theoretical position of the valve member may be subtracted from at least one position of each recorded valve member. The recorded at least one position of the valve member may also be summarized first in a histogram, followed by a subtraction of the at least one position of the valve member. The at least one difference may also be organized in a histogram. The vibrations and/or impacts are represented here as forming a plurality of strips or occupying a plurality of stages, which may correspond to deviations from the representation of the theoretical position and include coincidence with the theoretical position. Thus, positions that differ from the theoretical position by less than or equal to 0.01%, 0.1%, or 0.3% of the full stroke may be summarized in one stage. The next stage may contain all positions measured by the position sensor that differ from the theoretical position by more than 0.01%, 0.1% or 0.3% of the full stroke and less than or equal to 1%, 2% or 5% of the full stroke. If the number of measured positions in the stage or in the stage summed with positions which deviate even more from the target position is greater than a certain value or a predetermined threshold value, this is an indication of at least one vibration and/or shock acting on the control valve. The number of events or a certain value is in this case the amplitude or a predetermined threshold value which results in a message output. The occupancy of the class can here be backed off at a predetermined time, for example after 1 day or 2 hours, 3 hours or 4 hours, so that events which have occurred in the past are no longer taken into account.

In addition to focusing on some differences, at least one value of at least one difference in the second time interval range and/or having at least one difference as a base and the sum and/or integral of powers of even positive exponentials and/or at least one difference in the second time interval range and/or having at least one difference as a base and the sum and/or integral of powers of odd positive exponentials may also be used or focused on.

The position controller holds or moves the valve member to the theoretical position under normal operating conditions. If a deviation from the theoretical position or the theoretical position of the valve member occurs as a result of a vibration and/or an impact, the sum of the values relating to the at least one difference is a measure for the displacement distance or the travel distance that the valve member has traveled as a result of the vibration and/or the impact, at least from the point of view of the position sensor or the position controller. In this way, vibrations and/or shocks that move the valve member only slightly out of the theoretical position can be summed up to a displacement distance or stroke distance corresponding to a full stroke. The displacement or stroke is not only an indication that can be used to determine vibrations and/or shocks, but also an amplitude in the sense of the proposed method. If it is above a predetermined threshold, such as a distance corresponding to a full trip, a message is output according to the method.

A similar situation occurs with respect to the sum or the integration of at least one difference. The resonances around the theoretical position in this case nevertheless show rather small values for sum or integration or even complete cancellation. But if this information is taken into account together with a sum or an integral of values relating to at least one difference, it is thus possible to distinguish between, for example, shocks and vibrations. Finally, the impact can be said to result in a unilateral deflection of the valve member, so that the difference from the theoretical position caused by the impact does not completely cancel.

But the sum or integration may also form other functions than a poor body or value. So for example the square of the difference or the sum of the powers or the powers can be taken into account. In this way, certain values can be attenuated or emphasized in order to arrange the analysis more reliably or convincingly.

The sum or integral allows to obtain a comprehensive overview of the occurrence of vibrations and/or shocks in terms of unique values. They also allow non-critical interference factors to be hidden or critical factors to be highlighted. It can be used for purposefully scheduling the measurement of vibrations and/or shocks or the analysis of the recorded positions.

The methods described hitherto for measuring vibrations and/or shocks do not require a sequencing of the measured valve member positions or the measurement data of the position sensors. But if the data is ordered chronologically, a detailed assessment can be obtained. For example, if at least two valve member positions are recorded, at least one vibration and/or at least one impact can be determined by means of at least one position change and/or the amplitude of at least one vibration and/or at least one impact is determined by means of at least one position change, wherein the at least one position change is calculated in such a way that the recorded positions are subtracted from one another. A change in position is a change in position from a certain time to a later time.

The change in position thus determined can also be shown and evaluated in the histogram as already described with respect to the deviation of the recorded at least one position from the theoretical position. The determination of the change in position can be carried out here without the reference value being included.

In one variant of the method, a directional reversal of the valve member movement measured by the position sensor is determined from at least one position change for determining the vibration and/or the impact and/or for determining the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the at least one impact, and/or a change in the valve member position between at least two directional reversals measured by the position sensor is determined if at least two directional reversals are known.

Vibrations and impacts can be distinguished from each other by means of direction changes or deflections. Furthermore, the vibration frequency may be determined or at least estimated. Furthermore, the change in position between two direction reversals is a measure for the amplitude or intensity of the measured vibration and/or the measured impact.

The number of defined direction reversals in the second time interval can also be used to detect vibrations and/or shocks. This number can be considered, for example, together with the above-mentioned sum or integral. The valve member displacement distance or stroke distance measured by the position sensor corresponding to a full stroke but simultaneously, for example, with a 100-fold direction drop, is an obvious indication that the valve member and/or position sensor is moving due to vibration or a series of impacts.

The directional reverse may also be assigned a change in valve member position between the directional reverse sensed by the position sensor and the past directional reverse (the sensed first directional reverse is generally not considered in this regard). In this way, direction turns can also be summarized in a histogram and evaluated. The histogram includes, for example, a level that includes a direction reversal that is premised on a change in valve member position that does not exceed a certain threshold as measured by the position sensor. Occupying this stage indicates that the valve is fluttering. The next stage will get a direction reversal with a position change between the first and second threshold values and so on. Occupying this stage may infer a stronger vibration and/or shock.

When recording the at least one position of the valve member measured by the position sensor at the second time interval allows an analysis of the time profile of the at least one position of the valve member measured by the position sensor at the second time interval, a further possibility to evaluate the recorded at least one position of the valve member at the second time interval is obtained. In this case, for the determination of the vibrations and/or the impacts and/or for the determination of the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or of the at least one impact, for example, the position recorded by the position sensor is determined to coincide with a target position (zero crossing), the derivative of the time curve is calculated and/or a fourier analysis of the time curve is carried out.

To order the recording positions into a time curve, for example, time stamps or the scanning rate of the position sensor can be used. The locations may also simply be arranged in a row, which, although sorted by time, does not have a timestamp.

The temporal ordering of the recording locations allows detailed analysis in many cases. In this way, a pose difference image can be obtained and false alarms, for example, are avoided.

In order to determine vibrations and/or shocks, in many cases different methods are combined with each other to improve the reliability and persuasion of the analysis. For this purpose, for example, the amplitudes formed by different methods, such as the stroke distance, the displacement distance, the number of direction reversals, and the positional change within a certain range, may be combined, but the recorded valve member positions may be combined in one amplitude. For example, some values of the amplitudes may be added, where they may have different weights, among others. The predetermined threshold value may be an amplitude determined in a third time interval preceding the first and/or second time interval and/or adapted to the current operating conditions of the regulating valve. The operating conditions comprise control parameters such as, for example, the theoretical position of the valve member or process parameters such as the throughput or pressure or viscosity of the process medium. In this way, the sensitivity of the output message can be adapted to the operating conditions of the control valve or the device. In particular, the output of fault messages, for example, which are caused by work-induced vibrations and/or shocks, can thus be avoided.

The predetermined threshold value is in many cases determined within the range of installation and commissioning of the regulating valve. It may also be re-determined or re-tuned at a later time, for example when the device has completed its normal operation or a new device part has been installed. Thus, the third time interval comprises a part of the installation or commissioning process or a later time interval when the apparatus is operating under conditions which may be considered "normal".

A similar situation applies to the measurement of vibrations and/or shocks. The influence of the process medium and/or the process and/or the regulating valve and/or the surroundings of the installation on the regulating valve can therefore be taken into account when analyzing the at least one position of the valve member recorded at the second time interval. In this way, for example, vibrations and/or shocks caused by the setting operation or certain control parameters, such as disturbances or fluctuations caused by, for example, flow-through and/or caused by temperature, can be detected and distinguished from other disturbing influences acting on the control valve in the form of vibrations and/or shocks. In remote heating systems, for example, high-load operating conditions are to be expected in winter or summer. In solar thermal plants, day-to-night cycles and cloud layer densities have a non-negligible effect. The high pressures and high flow rates of the process medium result in turbulence and an increase in vibrations and/or shocks occurring in many cases.

In contrast, by means of the measured vibrations and/or shocks and the attention of the process medium and/or the process and/or the environment of the control valve and/or the plant to the control valve, it is possible to identify and ascertain process conditions with high load, which are not as pronounced as the cloud layer density has on a solar thermal plant. Thus, for example, mechanical stresses or loads caused by temperature changes, which occur, for example, as a result of the device being operated with a hot medium or as a result of the ambient temperature, can be detected.

The position sensor may be designed as a contactless sensor comprising a magnetic component. They comprise sensors which have, for example, a multipole magnetic anode, such as, for example, a magnetic encoder strip consisting of magnets arranged in series, or a polar ring with diametrically opposed magnetizations of two or more poles, the orientation of which is measured by means of a magnetoresistive sensor. The non-contact sensor reduces the mechanical connection that exists between the valve member and the position sensor and the consequent dampening effect. The determination of the valve member position is thus in many cases more sensitive and accurate, i.e. vibrations and/or shocks of small amplitude can be better detected.

However, the position sensor may also have a mechanical connection to the valve member to determine the valve member position, which can move not only with the valve member, but also independently of the valve member. The position sensor is thus provided with at least one further mechanical degree of freedom which can be used for measuring vibrations and/or shocks. The degrees of freedom generally have vibration properties that allow the position sensor to record and measure a wider range of vibrations and/or shocks than a similar sensor with a fixed, constant attachment mechanism. The connection is in many cases suitable, for example, for better withstanding vibrations of better frequency incoming from the outside, such as, for example, pipe vibrations which can be caused by a pump in the device. Furthermore, vibrations and/or shocks can be detected by means of the connecting means, in which case the relative position between the sensor and the valve member does not change or only changes to an indistinguishable extent. The vibration and/or shock may, for example, comprise a line vibration which moves the control valve more or less in its entirety upwards and downwards, so that the relative position between the valve member and the position sensor is hardly changed. Since the connection can be moved independently of the valve member (and optionally also of the position sensor), a relative movement can occur due to inertia, which can be measured by the position sensor despite slight changes in the relative position between the sensor and the valve member.

Combinations with non-contact measurement methods are also conceivable. In this way, vibrations and/or shocks resulting in relative movement between the valve member and the position sensor can be distinguished from vibrations and/or shocks that do not significantly affect the relative position. With the aid of different position sensors, position changes or displacement curves can be recorded, which are differentiated by the number or order of the vibration degrees of freedom of the sensor. The first-order total displacement curve superimposed on the second-order vibration curve can thus be used to determine disturbances caused by, for example, flow and temperature and to distinguish them from, for example, vibrations of the line occurring as a result of the actuator.

The connection can be implemented, for example, by means of a joint, a spring, a lever or a gear. In a preferred embodiment, the connecting mechanism is designed as a swivelling lever. The rotary lever can, for example, bear against a stop of the valve member, wherein a spring presses the lever against the stop. The valve member movement is thus converted into a rotational movement or deflection of the stem, which can be measured by a position sensor, for example by means of a rotary potentiometer or polar ring. The pivoting movement of the pivot lever here generally comprises the region 30 °, 35 °, 45 °, 60 ° or 84 °. The range of the rotation angle region may be in each value between 5 ° and 180 °.

Although the movement of the swivelling lever is limited by the stop and the spring, the swivelling lever can be moved away from the stop against the spring force independently of the valve member. In this way, the swivelling levers can, for example, absorb or be excited by pipeline vibrations, which can in turn be measured by the position sensor.

The pivot lever can thereby register not only vertical lifting movements, but also, for example, horizontally oriented vibrations and/or shocks. This applies above all to the case in which the swivelling levers are not oriented horizontally. The connection mechanism, such as for example a swivelling lever, can thus increase the bandwidth of the vibrations and/or shocks that can be measured with the proposed method.

The swivelling lever can also be guided in a chute guide fixedly coupled to the valve member. The link guide does not limit the movement of the swivelling lever in only one direction, but in both directions, unlike the stop. If vibrations and/or impacts whose amplitude is above a known maximum value are measured within the scope of the method, this indicates that the chute guide rod or rod is worn or damaged. This method therefore allows a measurement or at least an estimation of the play that the swivelling levers have in the chute guide.

In many devices, sensors for determining vibrations and/or shocks are available. The proposed method can be designed to analyze the measurement data recorded by the sensor for determining vibrations and/or impacts and to compare the result of the analysis of the measurement data recorded by the sensor with the at least one position of the valve member recorded during the second time interval.

In this case, the data of a plurality of sensors of the device can also be taken into account. The sensor data of the position sensors of the other control valves can be used in particular for this evaluation.

By comparing the data, it is possible to determine in which region of the installation the vibrations and/or shocks measured by means of the position sensor of the control valve occur, i.e. whether the entire installation is involved or is limited to a part of the installation, for example. The measured vibrations and/or shocks and the consequent malfunction or interference effects can be better positioned and limited. Thus, variations in some of the regulating valves within the process plant may be correlated with one another to, for example, determine whether the problem is present within the regulating valve (e.g., due to problems with the regulating valve itself) or whether the natural vibration of the entire plant or a portion of the plant has changed, which indicates a cause outside of the regulating valve. If one is concerned with the measured values for a number of valves and the corresponding changes in the measured vibrations and/or shocks and their amplitudes, a malfunction of the regulating valve can be identified as early as possible if the similar valves do not have similar changes or changes that lie outside a certain error. If all the regulating valves have similar variations, this indicates in many cases an external cause for the measured vibrations and/or shocks. The plant technology can also take account of knowledge or plant structure, in particular the spatial arrangement of the sensors and control valves or their rolls for the continuous process.

The object is also achieved by a control valve having a valve member for a process medium and/or a process on a plant and a position controller for adjusting the position of the valve member, wherein the position controller has a position sensor for measuring the actual position of the valve member and a mechanism adapted to carry out the steps of the method according to the invention.

In addition, this object is achieved by a computer program comprising instructions for producing the regulating valve described immediately above for carrying out the method steps of the method according to the invention.

A computer-readable medium having stored thereon the computer program just described also accomplishes this task.

The object is also achieved by a computer-implemented method for measuring vibrations and/or shocks that can be encountered by a control valve. The control valve is part of the plant on which the process is or can be carried out with the process medium. It has a valve member for influencing a process medium and/or a process which is or can be carried out on the plant, a position controller for adjusting the position of the valve member and a position sensor which can measure the actual position of the valve member. The method comprises the following steps:

1. receiving data about a theoretical position in which the position controller holds the valve member for a first time interval and/or to which the position controller moves the valve member for a first time interval;

2. receiving data indicative of at least one position of the valve member measured and recorded by means of the position sensor during a second time interval at or equal to the first time interval, typically the at least one position being an actual position of the valve member;

3. determining a vibration and/or shock that the regulating valve may encounter during a second time interval by analyzing the recorded at least one position of the valve member during the second time interval;

4. if the at least one vibration and/or the at least one impact is ascertained and/or the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the at least one impact is above a predetermined threshold value, a message is output.

In this way, vibrations and/or shocks can be recognized not only when the control valve is in operation, but also, for example, by evaluating recorded data. Furthermore, the recorded data about the valve member position can be analyzed again, for example when better algorithms for identifying vibrations and/or shocks are available.

In addition, the task is accomplished by a data processing apparatus that includes a mechanism for performing a computer-implemented method.

As data processing means or data processing systems or computer systems for carrying out the method, not only stand-alone computers or microcontrollers, DSPs or FPGAs, but also networks of microcontrollers, DSPs, FPGAs or computers, for example, closed networks in homes, or computers connected to one another via the internet, are considered. In addition, the computer system may be implemented in a customer-server configuration, where a portion of the present invention runs on a server used by the customer.

The task is also achieved by a computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the computer-implemented method.

One solution of the invention is also a computer-readable medium on which the computer program just described is stored.

Further details and features come from the following description of preferred embodiments in connection with the figures. In this case, the respective features may be implemented individually by themselves or in combination with one another. The possible ways of completing the task are not limited to the described embodiments. Thus, for example, a range recital always includes all non-indicated intermediate values and all conceivable sub-ranges.

The embodiments are schematically shown in the figures. The same reference numbers in the figures denote identical or functionally corresponding parts with respect to their function, in particular:

FIG. 1 shows a fully open regulator valve in conjunction with a position controller;

FIG. 2 shows the regulator valve of FIG. 1 with the valve in a position at which the valve is now fully closed;

fig. 3 shows a position sensor in conjunction with a swivelling lever;

FIG. 4 shows a position controller along with a non-contacting position sensor;

FIG. 5 shows a process diagram of the method of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows the displacement distance or travel distance recorded on two different days;

FIG. 7 shows the number of direction turns recorded on two different days; and

FIG. 8 shows a histogram of valve member positions over the day; and

FIG. 9 shows a histogram of valve member positions on another day;

FIG. 10 shows a histogram of a turn in the direction of a day; and

fig. 11 shows a histogram of direction drops on another day.

Fig. 1 shows a control valve 100 having a valve housing 105. The valve housing 105 includes an inlet 110, an outlet 115, a valve seat 120, and a valve member 125 with a valve cone 130. By means of the valve cone 130 or the valve member 125, the flow of the process medium can be regulated or controlled by the regulating valve 100. The process medium flows into the control valve 100 via the inlet 110 and leaves the valve 100 via the flow opening formed by the valve seat 120 and the valve cone 130 and the outlet 115. The process medium can also flow through the regulating valve 100 in the opposite direction. The valve member 125 is composed of a valve cone 130 and a valve stem 135, wherein the valve cone 130 is mounted on the lower end of the valve stem 135. To close the valve 100, the valve cone 130 is moved toward the valve seat 120 by the valve stem 135. To open, the valve cone 130 or valve member moves in the opposite direction. In this way, the passage opening of the control valve 100, which is formed by the valve seat 120 and the valve cone 130, can be enlarged or reduced, so that the throughflow of the fluid medium or the process medium can be controlled by the control valve 100.

For the movement of the valve member 125 or the valve cone 130, the regulating valve 100 is provided with a drive mechanism 140. The drive mechanism 140 is controlled by a position controller 145.

The position controller 145 has a position sensor for controlling the movement of the valve member 125 by the drive mechanism 140. The position sensor is constituted by a rotation angle sensor 150 having a contact potentiometer, a rotation lever 155 rotatably mounted on the rotation angle sensor, and a torsion spring 160. The rotating rod 155 is guided in the chute guide 170 by a small roller 165. The chute guide 170 is here fixedly connected to the valve stem 135 or the valve member 125. In addition, the small roller 165 is slightly gapped within the chute guide 170. The torsion spring 160 pre-tensions the rotating lever 155 so that the small roller 165 of the rotating lever 155 presses the upper side of the chute guide 170.

Linear motion of the valve stem 135 or valve member 125 is transferred to the rod 155 by the mechanical connection of the rotating rod 155 to the valve stem 135 facilitated by the chute guide 170 and the small roller 165. The lifting movement of the valve member 125 thus changes the angular position of the lever 155 at least when the clearance of the small rollers 165 in the chute guide 170 is eliminated at this time. The change in the angular position of the rotary lever 155 is converted by the contact potentiometer of the rotary angle sensor 150 into a resistance value, which in turn is measured by the position controller 145 and converted into the position of the valve member 125. In this way, it is possible to determine exactly which actual position the valve member 125 or the valve cone 130 is in by means of the position sensor or the rotation angle sensor 150. It is furthermore possible to monitor whether the valve member 125 has reached a predetermined theoretical position or remains there. Further, the position of the valve member 125 may be tracked as it moves.

If vibrations and shocks now act on the control valve 100, both the valve member 125 and the rotation angle sensor 150 can move within the valve housing 105 due to the occurring vibration forces. Because the small rollers 165 are slightly gapped within the chute guide 170, the rod 155 is also controlled and deflected by the vibratory force. It can temporarily disengage the side of the link guide 170 to which the lever 155 is pressed by the torsion spring 160 and in this way move independently of the valve member 125 and/or the rotation angle sensor 155.

The mechanical mechanism of the position sensor disposed on the position controller 145 can thus be divided into two vibration systems. The first system is constituted by a rotating lever 155 whose angular position is detected by means of the sensor device 150 and a torsion spring 160 that pretensions the lever 155 in one angular direction. The second vibration system is constituted by the valve member 125 and the rotation angle sensor 150. The second oscillatory motion system is suitable for detecting process pressure and/or flow rate fluctuations and temperature-induced drift or hard shock regulation of the valve system because the valve cone 130 is directly coupled to the process medium. The second vibration system records piping vibrations incoming from the outside, which may be caused, for example, by a pump in the apparatus.

The two vibration systems are mechanically connected to each other by a chute guide 170. The connection is non-linear because the pretension of the rotary lever 155, the play of the small roller 165 in the link guide 170 or the movement of the rotary lever 155 are limited by the sides of the link guide 170.

Fig. 2 shows a control valve 200, which is identical in construction to the control valve 100 shown in fig. 1. The valve 200 is in the closed position as shown in fig. 2, i.e., the valve cone 230 of the control valve 200 is pressed into the valve seat 220 by the position controller 245 by means of the drive mechanism 240 and the valve stem 235. In contrast, the control valve 100 is shown in fig. 1 in the position in which the valve 100 is now fully open.

Before the valve 200 is closed, it is also fully opened. To close the fully open valve 200, the valve stem 235, along with the valve cone 230 and the chute guide 270, moves downward toward the valve seat 220. The rotary lever 255 performs a rotary movement of 35 °, which is tracked or controlled by the position controller 245 by means of a position sensor formed by the rotary angle sensor 250, the rotary lever 155 and the torsion spring 160.

With the position sensor, the position controller 245 now also monitors the position of the valve cone. For this purpose, the resistance of the contact potentiometer is measured at a frequency of approximately 10Hz by means of the rotation angle sensor 250. The corresponding measurement is transmitted to the position controller 245. The position controller 245 records the measurement along with the calculated position of the valve cone 230 or valve member 225 and the corresponding time stamp from the measurement. The recorded values may be used, inter alia, to demonstrate the functional capability and possible failure diagnosis of the position controller 245 or the regulator valve 200. The geometry of the regulating valve 100 or 200 allows the movement of the valve member 225 to be tracked or monitored with an accuracy or resolution of 0.01% of the full stroke.

Fig. 3 shows a section 300 of a control valve (e.g., control valve 100 or 200) having a valve housing 305 and a valve stem 335, wherein the section 300 of the position sensor of the control valve comprises a portion of the valve housing 305 and a portion of the valve stem 335. The position sensor has a rotation angle sensor 350, which is designed as a contact potentiometer and is connected to the valve housing 305. Further, the sensor device is formed by a rotating lever 355 rotatably mounted on the rotational angle sensor and a torsion spring 360 that biases the rotating lever 355 in one angular direction. The rotating rod 355 has a small roller 365 at one end thereof, with which it is guided in the chute guide 370. The chute guide 370 is in turn connected to the valve stem 335. Thus, the rotating rod 355 is also mechanically connected to the valve stem 335 by a small roller 365 guided within a chute guide 370. The torsion spring 360 pre-tensions the rotating lever 355 so that the small roller 365 of the rotating lever 355 presses the upper side of the chute guide 370. The small roller 365 is slightly gapped within the chute guide 370.

By means of the position sensor, the linear movement, the lifting movement and the (elastic) deformation of the valve rod 335 are converted into a rotational movement of the swivelling rod 355. The rotational movement of the rotating lever 355 is detected by the rotational angle sensor 350. Due to the clearance of the small roller 365 within the chute guide 370, linear motion of the valve stem 335 can be transferred not only to the rotating rod 355, but also motion of the small roller 365 within the chute guide 170 or the rotating rod 355 that is not accompanied by linear motion of the valve member. In this way, different vibrations and/or shocks acting on the position sensor or the regulating valve and causing the rotational movement of the rotating lever 355 can be measured by the rotational angle sensor 350.

Fig. 4 shows a detail 400 of a control valve, which detail comprises not only the position controller 445 but also a part of the valve housing 405 and the valve rod 435 of the control valve. The position controller 445 is connected to the valve housing 405. It has an alternative position sensor based on a non-contact measurement method, here using a set of magneto-sensitive or magnetic sensors 480 and a magnet 490. The set of magnetic sensors 480 is integrated into the position controller 445. The magnet 490 is connected to the valve stem 435. The magnet 490 can thus move with the valve stem and perform a relative movement of the magnetic sensors of the set of magnetic sensors 480 therein. If the valve stem is moved, the magnetic field detected or measured by the magnetic sensor 480 of the set of magnetic sensors 480 changes. The magnetic field detected by the magnetic sensor is translated by the position controller 445 into the position or location of the valve stem and the valve cone or valve member connected thereto.

The use of magnets 490 or sets of magnetic sensors 480 allows for non-contact measurement without extensive mechanical freedom. The vibrations and/or shocks measured by means of the proposed method are thus attributed to the movement of the valve member relative to the position sensor. Furthermore, this relative movement is not damped by additional elastic or mechanical degrees of freedom of the sensor device. In this way, vibrations and/or shocks of small amplitude or intensity can be measured in many cases.

Fig. 5 shows a process diagram of a preferred embodiment of the method 500 of the present invention. The method starts with a step 510, in which, inter alia, method parameters such as, for example, a threshold value for outputting a message and a second time interval are set. In step 520, the method parameters are determined, by means of which it can be checked whether there is a condition for the start of the second time interval. In step 530, it is determined how the method continues according to the check result in step 520. If there are no conditions for the start of the second time interval, the method continues with step 520. If the start condition is met, the valve member position is measured at a scan rate of about 50ms by means of the position sensor of the regulator valve in step 540.

The determined position is recorded in step 550 and analyzed in step 560. It is ascertained whether the control valve has encountered vibrations and/or shocks in the second time interval, and if vibrations and/or shocks are ascertained, a corresponding amplitude is calculated. In step 570, it is determined how the method continues on the basis of the ascertained vibrations and/or shocks or the calculated amplitudes. If at least one of the calculated amplitudes is above the threshold set in step 510, the method continues with step 580, otherwise continues with step 520. An alarm or error message is output in step 580 and the method ends.

The second time interval is determined in step 510 such that it starts 1 minute after the valve member is moved to the theoretical position by the position controller and ends either 1 minute before the valve member is moved to the new theoretical position or automatically ends 2 hours if the valve member is not moved. By this setting condition, vibrations and/or shocks occurring due to the movement of the valve member are not detected and thus a consequent error message may be avoided. In addition, perhaps the ascertained amplitude is backed off to zero, which also reduces the number of false positives.

Various different methods are employed and combined for the determination of vibration and/or shock in step 560. They are described in detail below.

Fig. 6 shows a bar graph 600 of the displacement or travel distances traveled by the valve member of the regulating valve in the second time interval on day 4 of 12 months 2018 and on day 4 of 11 months 2019. The displacement distance or stroke distance is described herein in units of full stroke. Each displacement distance or travel distance is counted positively. According to this graph 600, the valve member traveled a displacement distance of about 20% of the total stroke on 12, 10, 2018. The displacement distance it has traveled on 11/4/2019 corresponds more or less to the total travel.

Fig. 7 shows a bar chart 700, here plotting the number of times the direction in which the valve member of the regulating valve has performed a turn-around in the second time interval between 12 and 10 days 2018 and 11 and 4 days 2019. A comparison of the graphs 600 and 700 shows that the mechanical load of the regulator valve is greater on day 11, month 4 in 2019 than on day 10, month 12 in 2018. Finally, the valve member makes not only four more directional turns at the same time interval than in 2018, 12 and 10, but also at least on average sees the same displacement or stroke distance per directional turn, as can be seen from an overview of fig. 6 and 7.

Fig. 8 shows a histogram 800 in which all valve member positions at which the valve member is in use from the regulating valve are recorded. The histogram 800 includes ten levels. The first stage 810 here contains all positions recorded at the second time interval that differ from the valve closed position by at most 5% of the full stroke, while the last stage 820 comprises positions recorded at the second time interval that differ from the full valve by at most 5% of the valve stroke. The bar height corresponds to the percentage of the positions in a level to the number of all sensed positions. The histogram shows that the regulating valve is generally moved back and forth between a closed position and a fully open valve position. Here it is in the closed position slightly more frequently than in the fully open valve position.

Fig. 9 shows a histogram 900 recording the valve member position at 11/4 of 2019 during the second time interval. It is constructed in the same manner as histogram 800. Histogram 900 shows that the regulator valve is approximately always fully open on day 4, 11 months 2019, but must have been in the closed position for the moment. It has also been shown that the deviation of the actual position of the valve member from the respective theoretical position must be less than 5% of the total stroke, since only the first stage 910 and the last stage 920 are occupied. A similar situation applies to histogram 800.

Comparison of the histograms 800 and 900 shows that there is no specific indication of vibration and/or shock that would indicate a rational issue of an alarm. But the analysis has not yet been concluded at this point.

Fig. 10 shows a histogram 1000 summarizing the number of times a valve member has been turned from a direction in which it has been performed after it has been put into use. Histogram 1000 includes ten levels. The first stage 1010 here contains all direction jumps recorded in the second time interval together with position changes of less than 2% of the full stroke, while the last stage 1020 contains all direction jumps recorded in the second time interval together with position changes exceeding one full stroke. In the second stage 1030, all direction turns are aggregated with position changes greater than or equal to 2% and less than 5% of full stroke. The direction reversal, along with the change in position between 95% and 100% of the full stroke, is at the penultimate stage 1040. The bar height corresponds to the percentage of direction turns in a level to the number of all direction turns measured.

Fig. 11 shows a histogram 1100 summarizing the number of direction flips that the valve member has performed at 2019.11.04 in the second time interval. This histogram is constructed in the same manner as histogram 1000. A comparison of histograms 1000 and 1100 shows that direction flipping involves a position change in the range of 2% -5% of full stroke more frequently at 2019.11.04 than in the past at the second time interval.

In an overview of the results and in particular of the fact that the number of direction reversals in year 11, month 4 in 2019 is higher than in year 12, month 10 in 2018, the consequent change in position on average looks the same or at least similar and that also a number of direction reversals with a large change in position are measured, it is easy to understand the possible way that a hitherto unseen vibration occurs in year 11, month 4 in 2019, which is constructively and destructively superimposed with at least one vibration occurring in both year 12, month 10 in 2018 and year 11, month 4 in 2019, which leads to a beat (schbuweng).

Such beats can be identified, for example, by means of a sum into which the number of direction jumps, the average magnitude of the consequent position changes and the occupation of the stage 1030 or 1130 are incorporated with corresponding weights. If the sum is above a predetermined threshold, a message is output.

Glossary

Device

The equipment is a well-planned composition of engineering components. The component parts may include machines, instruments, units, reservoirs, conduits or transport sections and/or control or adjustment elements. They can be connected, wired or logically connected to one another in terms of function, control technology and/or safety technology.

The apparatus operates in many different fields for a variety of purposes. Which for example comprise process engineering or process engineering equipment which in many cases is assigned to the chemical industry. The term "plant" also encompasses refineries, remote heating systems, geothermal or solar thermal plants, plants for food production, fresh water supply or waste water removal, biogas plants, etc.

Flow rate

The flow rate is the amount of fluid medium passing through a certain cross-section in a certain unit time. The amount of medium can be indicated here as mass. But from a measurement-technical point of view it is in many cases expressed in volume units or mass units.

Stroke control

The valve member stroke represents the distance the valve member travels when moving from the first position to the second position.

Actual position

The actual position is the spatial position and/or attitude of the object at a certain moment in time. In many cases, the actual position of an object is equivalent to its instantaneous position or attitude, i.e., equivalent to the position or attitude that the object is at the current time. But a certain moment may also relate to a past or future moment. The actual position is usually the starting point of the purposeful movement of the object to the theoretical position.

Process for the preparation of a catalyst

The (technical) process is the entirety of the process within the (technical) apparatus. A continuous process is a process that is passed right on the plant or in the normal operation of the plant. The process may be continuous or continuous (petroleum refining, remote heating or power generation) or discontinuous or batch processes (paste making for producing baked goods, pharmaceutical, coffee roasting).

Process medium

The process medium is a fluid medium which is circulated or conveyed in the apparatus within the scope of the process, and may be changed at the same time. The process medium may be an oil, salt, liquid or gas.

Impact of

A shock or impact is a mechanical load on an object that is relatively short compared to the duration of vibration, when kinetic energy or impulse is transferred to the object. The object or system can be plastically and/or elastically deformed and/or placed into vibration by impact (see, for example, bumping the tuning fork with a hard object).

Vibration

Vibration is the repeated elastic deformation or repeated deflection of at least one portion of an object over time centered at an equilibrium position. In many cases, the vibrations are caused by mechanical loading of the object or a part thereof. They may be periodic or aperiodic, containing in the aperiodic case approximately periodic vibrations (for example the superposition of two mutually perpendicular resonances with comparable frequencies) or even chaotic vibrations (for example as in a Pohlschen wheel). They may be sinusoidal but may also have other shapes such as triangular, rectangular or saw tooth shaped. The time interval at which the deformation or offset is performed and the offset distance or amplitude may be constant (e.g., as in un-damped vibrations) or time-varying (e.g., as in damped vibrations).

Theoretical position

The theoretical position is a predetermined or desired spatial position or attitude of the object from which the actual position of the object should deviate as little as possible. The theoretical position or the theoretical pose is in many cases the target of the directed object movement or the final result sought by the directed object movement. Ideally, at least as a result of the targeted movement of the object, the actual position of the object coincides with the target position of the gas flow or deviates slightly within the positioning uncertainty or the predetermined position error range that can be achieved with the targeted movement.

Position controller

A position controller is an element of a valve that operates a valve member of the valve to open and close the valve. The position controller in many cases comprises an electric drive or a fluid drive, wherein the latter can be either hydraulically driven or operated with compressed air.

Regulating valve

Regulating valves, also known as process valves or control valves, are used to throttle or regulate fluid flow. For this purpose, the closing element, for example a bore cone or a valve cone, is moved relative to the valve seat by means of a drive mechanism. In this case, the flow opening is opened or closed, as a result of which the flow rate can be influenced until the flow opening is completely closed. Pneumatic or electric drives are generally used for this purpose.

Valve member

A valve member is an element of a valve that can open or close a valve seat and is operated, for example, by a position controller to open and close the valve.

Time interval

The time interval is a time interval or period. The time interval has a start and an end which can be determined by one time instant, respectively. The time interval may consist of multiple time intervals, which may overlap and/or be separate from each other. The time interval has a duration period, which may include, for example, 1 hour or 1 day.

List of reference numerals

100. Regulating valve

105. Valve housing

110. Inlet port

115. An outlet

120. Valve seat

125. Valve member

130. Valve cone

135. Valve rod

140. Driving mechanism

145. Position controller

150. Rotation angle sensor

155. Rotating rod

160. Torsion spring

165. Small roller

170. Chute guide rod

200. Regulating valve

205. Valve housing

210. Inlet port

215. An outlet

220. Valve seat

225. Valve member

230. Valve cone

235. Valve rod

240. Driving mechanism

245. Position controller

250. Rotation angle sensor

255. Rotating rod

260. Torsion spring

265. Small roller

270. Chute guide rod

300. Regulating valve section

305. Valve housing

335. Valve rod

350. Rotation angle sensor

355. Rotating rod

360. Torsion spring

365. Small roller

370. Chute guide rod

400. Regulating valve section

405. Valve housing

435. Valve rod

445. Position controller

480. Group magnetic sensor

490. Magnet

500. Method for determining vibrations and/or impacts

510. Setting up

520. Examination start condition

530. Is the start condition satisfied?

540. Measuring

550. Recording

560. Determining vibration and/or shock

570. Is significant vibration and/or shock measured?

580. Outputting fault messages

600. Bar graph

700. Bar chart

800. Histogram of the data

810. First stage

820. Last stage

900. Histogram of the data

910. First stage

920. Last stage

1000. Histogram of the data

1010. First stage

1020. Last stage

1030. Second stage

1040. First to last stage

1100. Histogram of the data

1110. First stage

1120. Last stage

1130. Second stage

1140. First to last stage

Citations

Cited patent documents

DE102016216923B4

US9,423,050B2

Claims (17)

1. A method (500) for detecting vibrations and/or shocks that a regulating valve (100;

1.1 wherein the regulating valve (100,

1.2 wherein the regulating valve (100:

1.2.1 a valve member (125

1.2.2.2 a position controller (145,

1.2.2.1 wherein the position controller (145:

1.3 the position controller (145;

1.4 measuring at least one position of the valve member (125,

1.5 recording at least one position of the valve member (125,

1.6 determining the vibration and/or shock which the regulating valve (100,

1.7 outputting a message if at least one vibration and/or at least one impact is determined and/or the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the amplitude of the at least one impact is above a predetermined threshold.

2. The method (500) of claim 1,

2.1 varying from at least one position for determining vibrations and/or shocks and/or for determining the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the amplitude of the at least one shock

2.1.1 determining that the direction of movement of the valve member (125; and/or

2.1.2 determining a change in position of the valve member (125.

3. The method (500) according to any of the preceding claims,

3.1 the recording of at least one position of the valve member (125; and

3.2 for determining the vibration and/or the shock and/or for determining the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the amplitude of the at least one shock,

3.2.1 determining the coincidence of the position recorded by the position sensor with the theoretical position; and/or

3.2.2 calculating the derivative of the time curve; and/or

3.2.3 Fourier analysis of the time curve is performed.

4. The method (500) according to any of the preceding claims,

4.1 the predetermined threshold is an amplitude determined in a third time interval preceding the first time interval and/or the second time interval, and/or

4.2 the predetermined threshold value is adapted to the current working conditions of the regulating valve (100.

5. The method (500) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the influence of the process medium and/or the process and/or the regulating valve (100, 200) and/or the surroundings of the device on the regulating valve (100.

6. The method (500) according to any of the preceding claims,

6.1 the position sensor is designed as a contactless sensor, and/or

6.2 the position sensor includes a magnetic assembly.

7. The method (500) according to any of the preceding claims,

7.1 the position sensor has a connection to the valve member (125,

7.2 wherein the connection mechanism is movable not only with the valve member (125) but also independently of the valve member (125.

8. The method (500) of claim 7, wherein the connecting mechanism comprises a rotating rod (155.

9. The method (500) of claim 8,

9.1 the rotating rod (155;

9.2 wherein the chute guide (170.

10. The method (500) according to any of the preceding claims,

10.1 the device has a sensor for determining vibrations and/or shocks;

10.2 analyzing the measurement data recorded by the sensor for determining vibrations and/or impacts;

10.3 comparing the result of the analysis of the measurement data recorded by the sensor with the result of the analysis of at least one position of the valve member (125.

11. A regulator valve (100:

11.1 a valve member (125;

11.2 a position controller (145;

11.2.1 wherein the position controller (145; and

11.3 mechanism adapted to perform the steps of the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. A computer program comprising instructions for causing an apparatus according to claim 11 to perform the method according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

13. A computer-readable medium, on which a computer program according to claim 12 is stored.

14. A computer-implemented method (500) for detecting vibrations and/or shocks that a regulator valve (100;

14.1 wherein the regulating valve (100,

14.2 wherein the regulating valve (100:

14.2.1 is used to influence the process medium and/or the valve member (125

14.2.2 a position controller (145;

14.2.2.1 wherein the position controller (145;

wherein the method (500) comprises the steps of:

14.3 receiving data about a theoretical position, the position controller (145;

14.4 receiving data representative of at least one position of the valve member (125;

14.5 determining a vibration and/or shock which the regulating valve (100;

14.6 outputting a message if at least one vibration and/or at least one impact is determined and/or the amplitude of the at least one vibration and/or the amplitude of the at least one impact is above a predetermined threshold.

15. A data processing apparatus comprising means for performing the method (500) according to claim 14.

16. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform the method of claim 14.

17. A computer-readable medium, on which a computer program according to claim 16 is stored.

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